The Congress party has called for the reinstatement of Special Protection Group (SPG) security for Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and his sister, Priyanka Gandhi, the Indian National Congress General Secretary. This demand comes on the heels of controversial remarks made by Union Minister Ravneet Bittu about Rahul Gandhi.
During a press conference in Shimla on September 19, Kuldeep Rathore, a Congress legislator and AICC National spokesperson, expressed deep concern for the safety of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. Rathore condemned the BJP’s perceived attempts to create a hostile environment against the senior Congress leaders and advocated for the restoration of SPG security for both.
This call for heightened security stems from an incident on September 15, where Ravneet Singh Bittu, in a public address, allegedly referred to Rahul Gandhi as “the number one terrorist in the country.”
Rathore sharply criticized Bittu and the BJP, questioning the party’s decision to appoint him as a minister. He highlighted Bittu’s history of opposing the BJP during the farmers’ movement and asked whether his appointment was intended to allow him to make such inflammatory statements.
Rathore further emphasized the threat to Rahul Gandhi’s safety posed by the BJP, urging the party to apologize for Bittu’s remarks.
Adding to the concerns about security, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari alleged that the BJP and its allies are deliberately creating a climate of hatred, posing a significant danger to Rahul Gandhi.
Tiwari cited a series of incidents, including threats made by BJP leader Tarvinder Singh Marwah and a ₹11,00,000 reward offered by a Shiv Sena MLA for cutting off Rahul Gandhi’s tongue.
Tiwari placed the blame squarely on the Indian government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah for any lapse in Rahul Gandhi’s security.
